My Miku Sketchbook Tour

Hey everyone! So glad you stopped by for my Miku sketchbook tour. You know, since I shared my initial thoughts on this Temu sketchbook and its 'mixed media' paper that turned out to be... well, just regular sketch paper, I've had a few more thoughts I wanted to share about choosing sketchbooks and getting the most out of your art practice. That initial disappointment about the paper really highlighted for me how important it is to physically check paper quality before buying, especially if you're planning on using different mediums. When a sketchbook is advertised for mixed media, you'd expect it to handle watercolors or markers without bleeding through or buckling. For pure pencil sketches like many of mine, it's less of an issue, but if you're into anime marker art, for example, a poor paper choice can really mess up your work. So, my personal tip is: if you can, always feel the paper! If buying online, look for reviews that specifically mention how the paper holds up to various mediums, not just drawing pencils. Despite the paper hiccup, I still love having a 'cheap' sketchbook. It takes the pressure off! It's freed me up to just experiment and try out new drawing ideas on sketchbook pages without worrying about 'wasting' expensive paper. This has been amazing for my portrait sketchbook aesthetic pencil drawings. I've been really focusing on human heads and facial anatomy studies lately, as you might have seen in my tour. I find that practicing basic construction lines repeatedly really helps improve proportions and expressions. Don't be afraid to leave those construction lines visible, sometimes they add to the aesthetic! Speaking of drawing ideas, my current sketchbook is filled with a mix of everything. Sometimes it’s just quick sketches of people I see, or working on specific features like braided hair or someone wearing a baseball cap. Other times, I’m directly inspired by my favorite anime characters, trying to capture their unique styles. Having that Hatsune Miku sticker on the cover just makes it feel even more special and encourages me to fill it with more Miku-inspired art or general anime sketches. It’s a great way to keep your sketchbook tour interesting and personal – let your cover inspire your content! For anyone looking to fill their own sketchbooks with aesthetic pencil drawings, here are a few things that help me: Daily Warm-ups: Start each session with quick gestural sketches or facial anatomy drills. It gets your hand moving and your eyes trained. Reference Photos: Don't be afraid to use references! Pinterest, Instagram, or even just photos you take yourself can be a goldmine for drawing ideas on sketchbook. Themed Pages: Dedicate a few pages to a specific theme, like 'braided hair studies' or 'people in hats.' It helps build a visual library. Fan Art Fun: If you love anime, draw your favorite characters! It's a fantastic way to practice character design and expressions. My Miku book is definitely getting some more fun fan art soon. Remember, a sketchbook is your personal journey. It doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to be *yours*. Keep sketching, keep exploring, and enjoy the process!